Suster Anas

Translated from Bahasa Indonesia

Introduction

We are religious, so my name is Sister. I'm Sister Anas, I'm originally from Flores, but I've been living here since 2016. We live in Nusa Dua. We just happened to be here for an activity at SD Kaja.

Becoming a Sister

We have a choice in life. In Flores, there are many who have this religious choice. These religious people often come to schools, and give vocational promotions. Some children become interested in the life as a sister. These promotions are often done in high schools and churches. So the choice is made by us. We are not forced. It's our own choice. After high school you can contact the sisters or ask for help from the church if you want to join the convent. After joining, there are a few years before we become sisters. We don't become sisters right away. Everything needs a process. Initially, we become Aspirants, which is a six-month to one-year formation period. Then Postulants, for the same time period. Then, Novice. Well, Novice is really more serious formation because are one steo away from becoming a sister. All these things, that I wear, can only be used after becoming a sister. The cross, the ring, and these clothes. 

During this formation period, we practice a lot of self-reflection. "I think, this life, this kind of life, I can't do it. I can't be like this, I can't stand it and I don't feel at home." Some people feel that way. Especially in this modern era, we are prohibited from using cellphones, we rarely contact our parents. Later, at Christmas or Easter, we are given permission to use our phones. We have phones from home, but when we arrive at the monastery, we collect them, store them, and don't use them at all. So, during the formation period, if someone can't stand it, they can leave the monastery. 

All prayers are arranged from morning, noon, to night. We balance it with work, there is prayer and there is work. There are many challenges and obstacles, but if we really want to follow God, to serve God, anything can be passed.

Religion

Some people don't understand, but we chose this life... Sometimes people ask "Why do you want to live like this?" It’s because we are for God. We don't marry, we reduce communication, we are limited. 

We live in a monastery, it's called monastic life. We all live in groups, communities. We do everything in an association, and then, of course, there are rules. Everything is done according to the existing rules, from our founder. Our monastery is based in Italy, but its mission is in several countries, some of which being Indonesia, the Philippines, India and Nigeria. Here we have a school mission. We teach children in Kindergarten. 

We joined the monastery after graduating from high school. There was no college. After joining we are given the opportunity to study, but it is in accordance with the field needed by the congregation. All our needs are covered by the congregation, from the smallest to the largest things, everything is paid for. Our families can’t even pay a fraction of it. If the family wants to give pocket money, that’s okay, but it all has to be submitted to the leader. We don't just recieve money, it has to be appropriate. If we go out like this, the leader has give it to us, there are records, so we can’t just go around doing whatever we want. 

Teaching

We teach kindergarten, like a normal kindergarten too, and in our school, we have all religions. We have Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, Protestant, Catholic, Muslim children. Parents often ask "Sister, how do you teach religion here?" And we explain that we are Catholic, as sisters. We may not know how to pray as Hindus do. So we teach the children not to focus on religion. We focus more on morals. Now we do pray every day before and after activities, and we always pray in our way, the Catholic way, but for children of Muslim, Hindu, non-Catholic religions, we don’t force anything. If the child wants to come, please do, but if they don't, they are not forced. We encourage parents to teach some form of prayer at home, in their own respective religion but of course, at that age, nothing can be forced. “You can’t do this, you can’t do that!” If we forbid something, they just do it more. So, we let the kids follow what they believe in. 

For other schools, that’s not normal. At a normal kindergarten, religion is usually forced on the kids. Because our school is Catholic, people of other religions often ask "How do you teach our child if you're not our religion?" afraid their child later joining Catholicism. But no. We teach the kids to focus on their principles. Young children develop all their important morals at that age. So we say "we don't draw attention to religion at all. We concentrate on the development of the values of the child. It's more about the attitude of the child, their nature, their behavior. We give them guidance. When parents are busy with work, they often let their children go, and just leave them with a maid/babysitter. Sometimes the child's traits become rebellious, because they need love from their parents but don't get it because the parents are busy with their respective jobs. Some parents have told me they feel more comfortable letting their children be guided by us. It’s where their character, their aura is really formed.

Happiness

In the monastery, we really become a family. We are all from different places, different regions,  different backgrounds. So when we come together, different characters and ethnicities, it becomes a challenge for us. We have to adjust to each other. We try to understand one another, accept the flaws and strengths of the people around us.  

For what makes us happy in the monastery, it's that even though we are different we can understand and know each other. Whatever we do, we do it all together. 

For us, our happiness comes from the activities or events we do within the monastery. We are given the opportunity to host events when friends have birthdays. It's not as fancy as parties outside people have but it’s always a very happy experience. It's different from the outside world. Nobody bakes a big cake. In the morning, after the prayer, we say happy birthday. Just going around the house with everyone wishing us happy birthday, I felt so happy. Even though there were no gifts, we're very happy. Maybe for those outside, they'll be confused "why don’t you get presents", but for us inside, we don’t need that to feel joy.

Other happiness stems from our parents. If my parents, living in their village, have a problem, like illness or disaster, they immediately contact me. So I feel "my family needs me, needs my prayers. I have to pray for them." So any time they have issues or family events, I always bring it up in prayer. Not everything is answered, God's answers are not always what we expect. But, if the family contacts me and says that the one who was sick yesterday is better, I feel really happy. Even if we have problems, if we face God, those problems will be relieved. It's a joy to be able to feel what our family feels even though we are far away. 

Challenges

This is a perfect example. We go out, see people like you, walking, being free to shop for anything, or going out with friends in groups. We as humans want that too. I'd love to be like that. But I am a nurse. I chose this path myself. In the convent, there are times when we are invited to travel and have recreational time. But we can't walk alone. We have to be together. That's a challenge, seeing people outside with their nice gadgets, and their fun activities. When we're inside, prayer is definitely our most important focus. But then, we go out, see a lot of people, see people dating, we can't be like that. Sometimes as we think, "Wow, it must be cool to be like that.” If we can't restrain ourselves or control ourselves, we fall. Just from thoughts like that, we can fall victim to temptation like that. That's all. We have to be strong. Again, I chose this way of life, no one forced me so I have to live it. This is my choice, and not anyone else's. 

Inspiration

From the beginning, when I joined the convent, I had an aunt who was also a nun. She had joined before me. She was the one who invited me to come. “It's all God's way. Just come, get some experience. If it's God's will that you become a sister, praise God and continue your calling. But if God says your calling in life is not here, then continue your life elsewhere." After that, I followed my aunt to the convent and now, I’m still here. 

Also, our lead sister. Our superior sister is from the Philippines but has been working in Indonesia for a really long time. She was the one who opened our first convent in Indonesia. She’s a real inspiration for me because of her motherly personality, trully welcoming when I first came in. I had a lot of obstacles because I had to adjust to new people but she helped me through that immensely. Our superior sister is great, she guides all people trying to become sisters. Many people enter the convent, but not everyone who enters the convent stays. So sometimes there are 20-30 people who enter, but sometimes only four, three, or even two become sisters. So I love that my superior can guide many people to stay in this convent.

Finally, before meals, we read the history of the saints and and some of these saints inspire me. My name is Anastasia, and Santa Anastasia is among the saints. Santa Anastasia was a widow, but she became a saint because of her charity. That is an inspiration to me. It turns out, she was a layperson. Most of the sisters we think are saints, really pure, are not all like us. We can see from history, there are saints who get married. But, they lived the way we live and they become saints.